Page 37 of The Fireman and the Flirt

Wasit any surprise that Russ put together a delicious Thanksgiving feast?

Turkey that melted in my mouth. Tangy, sweet cranberry sauce. Creamy mashed potatoes. Pilgrims would rise from the dead to join in.

The boys made turkey-shaped place cards, while Jolene and Cal teamed up to create a festive cornucopia centerpiece. This was hands-down the best Thanksgiving meal I’d had in a while.

Cal clinked his glass to get our attention. “I’d like everyone to raise a glass. As unaccustomed to public speaking as I am–”

“Sure,” Russ deadpanned.

“I want to say how grateful I am for everyone around this table. Grateful to have family closer by. Grateful to have energetic, healthy children. And grateful to have a husband who is an amazing cook, but also an amazing father and person. Russ, you and I like to give each other guff, but I love you. Even if the gravy was a scoach too salty. Kidding!”

I was fine being single. Over the past six months, I realized that I didn’t want to risk another betrayal, another loss, or worse. Yet when Russ took Cal’s hand and kissed it tenderly, the gesture tugged at my heartstrings more than it should have.

I stealthily took out my phone and held it in my lap.

Derek: Thanksgiving Caryisms:

Derek: The gravy isn’t too salty. It’s packed with extra flavor.

I smiled to myself in that proud way that came with having a running inside joke with someone. I silently cheered when my phone buzzed.

Cary: Meh. 5/10.

Cary: You can do better than that, Hogan.

Derek: Challenge accepted.

I rattled around potential Caryisms while I helped clear the table for dessert. Cal had told Russ to just buy a pumpkin pie, but that was not in Russ’s nature. Somehow, he found the time and energy to make a pumpkin and a pecan pie from scratch. It was a good thing he liked Cal nice and round. And it was a good thing I was moving out soon, or else they’d have to grease the doorways to get me out.

Derek: The turkey isn’t burnt. It’s caramelized.

Cary: Better. 5.4/10

Derek: I didn’t set the smoke alarms off. I added a moody ambiance that added mystique to the space.

Derek: The fire in the kitchen will help you cut down on your heating bills.

Cary:LOL

Derek: Was that an actual LOL?

Cary sent me a picture of him laughing. His cheeks bunched up, teeth on display. I closed and reopened it multiple times.

Cary:7.8/10

Derek: You’re a tough judge.

Cary: I take my Caryism scoring rubric seriously.

“What are you watching? Are you on TikTok, too?” Cal asked.

I shoved my phone in my pocket, feeling like I was busted even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

Earlier in the week,I’d promised Jolene we could go stargazing if the weather held out. Well, I wasn’t going to renege on a promise, even if I was stuffed with turkey and it was freezing cold out. I lugged her telescope into the car, and we drove to the playground in Russ’s neighborhood. It wasn’t as dark as she’d wanted, but it was far enough away from the surrounding houses that they wouldn’t limit our view.

I made Jolene wear her thickest hat and thickest gloves before taking the reins of the telescope.

“Dad! I can see Cassiopeia!” she called out from her perch, one eye looking into space. I threw my head back, awed by the sea of stars. Stargazing made me feel both incredibly small and incredibly big. I was but a mere human on this relatively small planet surrounded by an unending array of stars. But I also felt deeply connected to the universe, like maybe me being here wasn’t an accident.

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